Your Domain Name - Protect it at all costs!

‍Why This Matters More Than You Think

Imagine this: Your website goes down. You call your hosting provider. They say, “We can’t help... you’ll need to talk to your domain registrar.” You respond, “My what?”
Turns out, you don’t know who owns your domain, where it’s registered, or how to log in. Now your online presence, emails, site, everything... is at risk.

This situation happens more often than you’d think. That’s why this guide covers:

• How to transfer your domain name to another provider, step-by-step
• Why it’s critical to know where your domain is registered... and how to access it

Let’s break it down so you stay in full control of your digital property.

What Is a Domain Registrar (and Why It’s Different from Hosting)?

A domain name is the address people use to find your website... like yourcompany.com. It’s registered and managed through a domain registrar.

A web host is where your website’s files live. Think of it this way:

• Your domain name is like your street address.
• Your web host is the house at that address.
• The domain registrar is the land titles office that manages who legally controls that address.

Knowing where your domain is registered... and being able to access that account... is just as important as knowing your banking login or tax account info.

Why You Must Know Where Your Domain Is Registered

Here’s what can happen if you don’t:

• You can’t make changes to DNS records (which control email, security, and site hosting)
• You risk letting your domain expire (if billing emails go to someone else)
• You lose control of a critical business asset (especially if a former employee or designer registered it)

Common signs you don’t control your domain:

• You don’t know your registrar login
• The domain is in someone else’s name
• You rely on your web designer to make DNS changes
• You’ve never paid for domain renewal directly

Bottom line: If you don’t have access to your domain registrar, you don’t fully own your brand online.

How to Find Out Where Your Domain Is Registered

Step 1: Use a WHOIS Lookup Tool

Go to a site like whois.com or ICANN Lookup. Enter your domain name and look for the Registrar field.

Step 2: Check Your Email History

Search your email for terms like:

• “Domain registration”
• “Renewal notice”
• “ICANN”
• “Yourdomain.com receipt”

This might reveal where your domain is registered (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).

Step 3: Recover Access

If you recognize the registrar but can’t log in:

• Try password recovery using your email
• Contact the registrar's support team
• If the domain is under someone else’s account, request they initiate a transfer or add you as a contact

How to Transfer Your Domain to Another Provider

Transferring a domain doesn’t move your website... it just changes who manages the domain name itself.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Log in to your current domain registrar
2. Unlock the domain (turn off “Domain Lock” or “Transfer Lock”)
3. Get your EPP/Auth Code (this is like a password for the transfer)
4. Start the transfer at your new registrar (they’ll ask for the domain name and EPP code)
5. Verify and approve the transfer via email
6. Wait 5–7 days (sometimes quicker) for the transfer to complete

Once the transfer is complete, the new registrar will manage your DNS and renewal settings going forward.

Pro Tips to Protect Your Domain

• Never let someone else register your domain in their name... especially third-party designers or IT firms
• Keep your domain and hosting separate for easier management
• Use your business email, not a personal or employee address, for registrar accounts
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for registrar logins
• Set up auto-renewal and ensure billing info is up to date

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Digital Real Estate

Transferring your domain isn’t difficult... but knowing where your domain lives and having direct access to it is absolutely essential. If you’ve never checked, now’s the time.

• Take five minutes today to find out who your registrar is
• Make sure the domain is in your name and email (Your registrant, admin and tech email addresses are current)
• Consider transferring it to a registrar you trust and have easy access to.

Gaslamp Village Media is happy to manage your domain.  We will never claim ownership of your domain, and will always respect the wishes of any client in good standing to transfer the domain to another registrar.

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